Just when Cape Cobras coach Paul Adams was rejoicing in having a fully-fit squad at his disposal, he has suffered more misfortune.
Senior players Andrew Puttick and Rory Kleinveldt were passed fit on Tuesday for this weekend’s RamSlam T20 Challenge opener against the Highveld Lions, with both recovering from injury. But Adams was forced to alter his plans when SA Engelbrecht sustained a hand injury in warm-up matches this week and is ruled out of Sunday’s clash.
Back-up wicketkeeper Pieter Malan also injured a finger taking a routine catch during the warm-ups. Although Malan wasn’t set to be part of the Cobras squad this weekend, Adams’ options in the wicketkeeping department are fairly thin with Dane Vilas in India with the Proteas test side.
Engelbrecht would have been valuable to the Cobras due to his all-round abilities, specifically in T20 cricket. He offers much with the bat, is a useful off-spinner and, of course, is an electrifying fielder.
Adams will now likely turn to last season’s slow bowling sensation George Linde. The tall left-armer, who has been compared to Proteas spin bowling coach Claude Henderson, could possibly have missed out due to veteran spinner Robin Peterson’s availability for the T20 Challenge this season.
But the 23-year-old deserves an opportunity after finishing as the tournament’s joint second-highest wicket-taker last summer with 14 scalps at an average of 15.50 while conceding just 6.78 runs per over. His fearlessness in the heat of battle was his most impressive attribute. Regardless of whether some of the most experienced batsmen in the country were attacking him, he remained committed to an attacking line outside the off-stump, regularly tossing the ball up to gain the maximum spin on offer.
Linde has not played for the Cobras yet this season, but he has shown during numerous net sessions that he is ready for another opportunity. He also spent the winter with former Cobras coach Shukri Conrad at the National Academy before spending a month in Sri Lanka further fine-tuning his craft.
The only concern with Linde is that he needs to work out the pace at which he needs to bowl in South Africa as he has recently wanted to bowl too quickly through the air.
He is also an under-rated lower-order batsman. He has a first-class half-century for the Cobras, and is also adept at moving the run-rate.
With the Cobras missing Vilas’ striking power up front, there could even be a case for Linde to be utilised as a “pinch-hitter” up the order.
Meanwhile, West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell has returned for a follow-up season with the Knights after leading them to the final last season.
The Knights have further bolstered their ranks with the loan signing of Titans batsman Theunis de Bruyn. - Cape Times